Saab TTiD in Aussie diesel comparo
The Motor Report is a relatively new Australian motoring website and they’ve recently completed their first comparison road test.
It’s the Saab TTiD Aero vs the Ford Mondeo TDCi.
Yes, you read that correctly.
Let’s be honest here, shall we? I don’t think TMR deliberately thought let’s get these two cars from very different segments and do a direct comparison between them. I think it probably went more like this: we’ve got two diesels available this week - let’s do a comparison!
It’s an odd pairing, but worth reading about just the same. Here in Australia, the Saab is some $25,000 more expensive than the Mondeo, so the review aims to answer whether or not they think the difference is worthwhile.
They frame the question as if it’s being asked by an accountant. Well, as a CPA qualified accountant myself (there, I said it), I can tell you that if you’ve got the $25,000 extra in your pocket, you’ll probably opt for the TTiD and smile all the way home in your comfortable seats, with all those extra horses and torques to get you there. If you’re stretching to put that extra money together, then you’ll probably convince yourself that you’re happy in the Mondeo and barely give it another thought.
A few snippets:
….With clam-shell bonnet, deep traditional Saab grille, all-new headlamp lenses, and a very nice fore and aft balance, the TTiD is a return to form by Saab in exterior styling…..
….You will more immediately feel ‘at home’ in the Saab – you sit low and snug, everything is nicely at hand and, while the matt-black plastic dominating the fascia is a let-down, there is an understated integrity to the look and feel.
….Once on the move….the Saab comes on like a shower. It is impressively swift and emits a very satisfying turbo whistle when things become serious. Here the TTiD can be favourably compared to fancied rivals like the BMW 520d…..
They readily acknowledge that the TTiD is a better all-round package, but that’s not to say that the Mondeo hasn’t got a few tricks up its sleeve as well. It looks good and the turbodiesel powerplant has got plenty of pulling power for a family hauler. It’s got leather. It’s got gadgets. The Saab has all those things, and it’s got better versions of them, to boot.
In the end, it’s not that much of a surprise. If you’re a road-tester, why write a value-based road test that favours a seemingly expensive car if the cheaper model ticks the boxes. They way it ticks them doesn’t matter to most. The Mondeo diesel will outsell the Saab by a significant margin in the coming years as it’s only two-thirds of the price and is much more visible to the average car buyer.
The TTiD will sell to those that go looking for it. They’ll be cashed up, and when they finally get it, they’ll be glad they made the effort.
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This bring up a topic: Commuters vs. Driving Enthusiasts.
The majority of the population falls in the former catergory, while the later group is a special bunch.
Swade - something told me all along that you were a beancounter but converted to strategy and realism (tongue in cheek - Aussie style). In this part of the world, the Mondeo as well as the Accord are darn good cars but often overlooked purely on some rip snorting bias towards the traditionl trio of Audi-BMW-MB. They quietly go about their business with not much public broadcasting and are just as good, but whether they are in the same (read premium) class as the 9-3 SS TTiD, not so sure, though they move more metal. But as Ying said, people will notice ‘ em as opposed to the 9-3.
Interesting comparison. I have Saab TTiD and I´ve driven new Mondeo few times. I must say that in my opinion Mondeo has better steering feel, handles better and is more “drivers” car than a Saab. Actually it has one of the best chassis of all the FWD cars of it´s size, that I´ve ever driven. TTiD suffers a bit from the heavy engine. It makes the car feel a bit nose heavy, thus cousing some unwanted understeering, which is not so much present on a petrol versions like 1.8t.
But steering and handling are not all that car needs to have. I would never buy Mondeo.
Conclusion to all this. Bring on the TTiD XWD. I think about 90% of all the TTiD reviews end with a comment of missing fourwheeldrive…
A great read! If you’re just thinking rational, a Mondeo, Passat etc. gives you everything you need at great value. But I would rather save up to buy a car that makes me smile everytime I see it and everytime I drive it, and in this case, it would be the 9-3 TTiD.
Howdy Swade. Firstly, thanks for featuring our road-test on your wonderful site. Secondly, you nailed it. We just happened to have the Mondeo and the Saab at the same time (well, actually they overlapped by a few days) and we thought, hmmmm why not write them up together!
I had the Mondeo for a couple of days (we had it for a week but The Insider spent most of his time with both cars as he was writing the review) and the Saab for a couple of hours - give me the Saab anyday!!!
Sure it costs a lot more, but it just felt more comfortable and more together - perhaps ’special’ is a good way to describe it. We copped a bit of flack in the comments for daring to suggest that anything built on the same platform as the Vectra could be any good (especially compared to the Mondeo) - but I suspect thats more an anti GM view than anything really constructive.
The proof is the pudding.
Cheers,
Steane
You’re welcome, Steane. I enjoyed the review. I might have to lobby Saab Oz and see if I can get a test car put on the boat and sent south. That TTiD is one smooth motor.
The Swedish motorpress tested the Ford Mondeo 2,5T and Saab 93 Aero recently. Mondeo achieved full five stars, the Saab four and a half. According to the Swedish tester, the Ford has an excelent chassi. Saab´s chassi (too soft) is only medicore.
Their fazit: Mondeo comes closer to the German premium-three than Saab!
Correction:
In the above mentioned test Saab got three and a half stars, not four and a half.
It really comes to question what you need and what you´re looking for. A passenger wagon with loads of space, good driveability and reasonable price - go Mondeo. Agreed with Swedish press about the chassis. Mondeo has awesome handling for a FWD. Go´n test one if you haven´t already. Saab has good driveability, but it certainly could be a lot better too.
The Mondeo may come closer to the german premium cars in terms of quality, but then it also comes closer in terms of….just about everything. I remember a review I read last year stated that Mondeo is a BMW with a blue oval instead of the blue/white circle. I know there are still differences between them, but still they are too much alike (for me at least). Not to mention that in some countries the price difference between the Mondeo and Saab 93 is not that huge (for example Germany).
Having driven some 8000 km in my TTiD I would definitely not buy a Mondeo. Actually I wouldn’t buy anything else than Saab (except for Jaguar). It’s not only the chassis or the quality of interiors that make a good car. It’s…the car itself. Besides, owing and driving a car it’s also a statement, not about your bank account but about yourself. I don’t like to wear the same shoes as the rest of the world just because it’s a trend; the same with shirts and everything; and definitely don’t want to buy the same car as 80% of the citizens of the town I live in just because it’s popular, very responsive and the plastic inside is heavenly good (I mean really, how often do you touch that plastic actually? I for example use to keep my hands on the steering wheel) or I don’t know what fancy gadget with thousands of blue lights. Man built Mercedes for that.
All I want is a car I feel good in, with comfy seats for the 500km or longer trips, low consumption even when doing 200 on the motorway, brakes that don’t make become one with the seat belt , but yet through some magic manage to stop the car in time, steering wheel with less sensibility than a paranoid mosquito and with plenty of space.